Senegal’s ex-president sets out conditions for political dialogue

Senegal’s former president Abdoulaye Wade has expressed his readiness to participate in the political dialogue proposed by president Macky Sall.

However, Wade added that the proposal must meet six conditions, including the appointment of two members of the opposition in the seven-member of the Constitutional Council.

Abdoulaye Wade, the national coordinator of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), whose coalition “Wattu Senegal” came second during the legislative polls after winning 19 out of 165 seats, also demands the replacement of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENA) by an independent body for the supervision and control of the electoral process.

In addition, the 92-year-old insists, the Supreme Court must include neutral, independent magistrates with integrity while demanding the departure of the minister of Home Affairs, Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo.

He furthermore calls for the re-establishment of a consensus of the whole political spectrum on the democratic process and the independent audit of the electoral register under the supervision of the African Union, the United States and the European Union.

At the end of the Eid el-Kebir prayer at Dakar’s Grand Mosque, Macky Sall, whose coalition '' Benno Bokk Yakaar '' won the majority of the July 30 legislative elections by securing 125 out of 165 seats, advocates the evaluation of the exercise in order to anticipate future ballots.

The head of State added: "I remain open to dialogue (...) this country will not be built without constructive dialogue.”